Disinfecting and deodorizing receptacle



. March 7, 1967 NARDI 3,307,902

DISINFECTING AND DEODORIZING RECEP'IACLE Filed April 24, 1964 Ame/v67 United States Patent 3,307,902 DISINFECTING AND DEODORIZING RECEPTACLE Laura Nardi, 59 St. Nicholas Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11208 Filed Apr. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 362,284 3 Claims. (Cl. 2l77) This invention relates to the field of disinfecting and deodorizing, and has for its objective the provision of a receptacle, such as a clothes hamper, for the receipt and retention of soiled clothes, linens and the like, which is adapted automatically to spray the soiled clothes and linens with a chemical disinfectant and deodorant while they are in the process of being inserted into the receptacle through a reduced aperture, and thereafter retaining these articles in the closed receptacle until such time as they can be removed for laundering, thus eliminating odors, and preventing them from escaping into the room Where the receptacle is situated.

As is well known, individual articles of clothing, bedlinen and the like, after having been soiled in use, are not immediately laundered as a general rule, but are deposited in a hamper or similar receptacle until such time as a sufiicient quantity has been accumulated, whereupon the accumulation is then removed and laundered. Often several days elapse before a bundle of such articles is amassed for laundering. In the meantime offensive odors from dirt and perspiration, and from the growth of bacteria, escape into the room where the receptacle is located, particularly each time the cover is raised to deposit another article into the receptacle, creating a stench in the surrounding area. Further, the accumulation of such articles in a closed receptacle provisions an ideal breeding place for infectious germs and bacteria.

Various attempts have heretofore been made to overcome this problem, such as by using a germicidal spray on soiled articles before depositing them into the receptacle, or by spraying them after they have been so deposited, but these methods, for obvious reasons, have not produced satisfactory results.

It is the principal object of my invention, therefor, to provide .a receptacle adapted automatically to cause articles of soiled clothes and the like to be sprayed with a disinfecting and deodorizing chemical as they are being inserted into the receptacle.

A second important object of my invention is the provision of a receptacle, of the type hereinabove described, which is provided with a reduced aperture in its cover having a spring-actuated closure member or flap, through which the articles can be inserted into the receptacle without raising the cover itself, thereby exposing the accumulated contents.

A third important object of my invention lies in the provision of a receptacle, of the type hereinabove described, which is adapted to prevent dampness and rot from developing within the receptacle.

Still another important object of my invention lies in the provision of a disinfecting and deodorizing receptacle which is durable and simple to operate, and which can be manufactured inexpensively.

These and other salient objects, advantages and functional features of my invention, together with the novel features of construction, composition and arrangement of parts, will be more readily apparent from an examination of the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken on lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, partly broken away;

Patented Mar. 7, 1967 FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing an article of clothing being inserted therein; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded view of a portion of the interior of the receptacle, showing the manner of attachment of the spray can to the rear wall of the receptacle.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the different views.

Illustrative of the embodiment shown in the drawings, my disinfecting and deodorizing receptacle 10 comprises a body portion 12 and a fiat cover 14 pivotally secured to the body portion 12 along their respective rear edges by means of a hinge 16. The bdoy portion 12 comprises a base 18, side walls 20a and 20b, a front wall 22 and a rear wall 24, all integrally secured together, with the walls 20a and 20b, 22 and 24 curved inwardly at their free edges to form a slightly reduced opening. The cover 14 is provided with a depending rim 26 adapted to fit snugly around the reduced edges of the walls 20a, 20b, 22 and 24. The upper edges of the walls 20a, 20b, 22 and 24 are provided with a lining or gasket 28, of rubber or similar insulating material, which is adapted to provide an air seal for the receptacle 10 when the cover 14 is securely fastened to the body portion 12. If desired, a hasp (not shown) may be provided to lock the cover 14 to the body portion 12, but this is a matter of choice rather than necessity.

The cover 14 is provided centrally with a substantially rectangular aperture or slot 30, through which articles, such as soiled clothes or linen 32, may be inserted into the receptacle 10 without lifting the cover 14. A flap 34, preferably of the same material as the cover 14 and having the same size and shape as the slot 30, is pivotally secured to the rear edge 36 of the slot 30 by means of a hinge 38 which is provided with a coil spring 40 whose extended ends abut the undersurface of the flap 34 and of the cover 14, respectively, so as to retain the flap 34 against the slot 30 in normal position, the spring 40 being adapted to yield to pressure so as to permit the flap 34 to be depressed pivotally into the receptacle 10, as shown by FIG. 3, toward the rear wall 24. The cover 14 is further provided with a raised lip 42 around the front and side edges of the slot 30, against which the flap 34 is disposed to abut when the flap 34 is in closed position, as shown by FIG. 2. to prevent escape of odor from within the receptacle 10.

Within the body portion 12, its rear wall 24 is provided with an horizontal shelf 44, disposed adjacent to side wall 20b and adapted to support a spray can 46 in vertical position. A pair of brackets 48 are secured to the rear wall 24 above the shelf 44, and are adapted to hold the can 46 securely in its upright position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The spray can 46 contains a disinfecting and deodorizing chemical, and is provided with a valve 50 having a side opening 52 by which the chemical is sprayed from the can 46 by depression of the valve 50, the can 46 being so disposed on the shelf 44 that the opening 52 is directed diagonally toward the opposite corner of the body portion 12. This invention is not limited to any particular disinfecting and deodorizing chemical or combination of chemicals, since many presently on the open market are equally suitable for the purposes hereof. A product known by the trademark Lysol, containing active ingredients of o-phenylphenol, N-alkyl and N-ethyl morpholinium ethylsulphates, and a product known by the trademark 3-way air sanitizer, containing glycol and Xzene (trademark), to name but two, have been found effective for application herein.

Side wall 20b of the body portion 12 of the receptacle 10 is provided with a rod or pin 54 extending laterally into the interior of the receptacle 10, above and in front of the valve 50 of the can 46, adapted to act as a pivot for the pivot bar 56 which is secured to its end, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The pivot bar 56 is provided with extending arms 58 and 60, arm 58 disposed to extend above the valve 50, while arm 60 extends upwardly in the direction of the fiap 34, the flap 34 being adapted, when pivotally depressed to expose the slot 30, to engage the arm 60 and rotate the pivot bar 56 so that its arm 58 comes into contact with and depresses the valve 50 of the spray can 46, releasing the spray chemical into the interior of the receptacle 10. A coil spring 62 is secured at one end to an extending pin 64 in side wall 20!) at its other end to a ring 66 in arm 58 and is adapted to pivot arm 58 upwardly away from the valve 50, when the pressure of the flap 34 against the arm 60 is removed. This upward movement is limited by the contact of the arm 58 against a retarding pin 68 extending from the wall 20b into the receptacle parallel to the pin 54.

In the operation of my invention, the spray can 46 is seated on the shelf 44 and secured within the brackets 48, with the valve 50 disposed so that its opening 52 is directed diagonally across the interior of the receptacle 10 beneath the slot 30, and the cover 14 closed. When an article of soiled clothing or linen is to be deposited in the receptacle 10 it is pushed through the slot 30 by pressing it against the flap 34. The flap 34 is thereby rotated against the arm 60 of the pivot bar 56 causing the latter to rotate so that its arm 58 depresses the valve 50 on the spray can 46 and the chemicals contained therein to be sprayed on the descending article of clothing as it passes into the receptacle 10. The article of clothing 32 then falls to the bottom of the receptacle 10. With the release of the pressure against the flap 34 it returns to its closed position releasing the arm 60 of the pivot bar 56, and the action of the spring 62 returns the pivot bar 56 to its normal position, as shown in FIG. 2 terminating the pressure on the valve 50 and stopping the spray.

In the course of the deposit of a number of articles of soiled clothing into the receptacle 10 it is possible that some dampness may develop in the accumulated clothing and linen. To avoid this the front wall 22 and the side walls a and 20b of the body portion 12 are provided with a plurality of ventilation openings 70.

While no particular material is described for the construction of the receptacle 10, it is well apparent that it may be made of metal, plastic or other suitable material. It is also obvious that my invention is not limited to the shape shown, but may be round or oval as well, and of any suitable size. In addition, a suitable lining bag may be provided within the receptacle 10, so that the articles of clothing 32, when accumulated within the bag, may be removed en masse by lifting out the lining bag itself from the receptacle 10. While the size of the slot is not critical, it should be large enough to accommodate most sizes of clothing and linen. I have found a slot size measuring 4" x 12" to be suitable. It may, however, be larger or smaller, as desired. If smaller, the cover 14 may be raised for the occasional insertion of a large piece, such as a bed sheet.

The embodiment above described, and shown by the drawings, is by way of illustration only, and various changes may be made in the construction, composition and arrangement of parts, without limitation upon or departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, or

sacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein, all of which are claimed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A disinfecting and deodorizing receptacle for soiled clothing and the like comprising a base with upstanding side walls and a hinged cover pivotally secured to one of the side walls adjacent its upper edge, a slot provided in the cover through which soiled clothes are hand-deposited into the receptacle, a downwardly swingable closure flap of sufiicient size to cover the slot pivotally supported by a hinge on the undersurface of the cover adjacent one side of the slot, spring means in the hinge urging the flap up wardly against the undersurface of the cover adjacent another side of said slot in covering relationship to said slot, a spray can of disinfecting and deodorizing liquid vertically disposed in the receptacle, means to removably secure the spray can to a side wall of the receptacle, the spray can provided at its top with a spring-actuated, vertically-depressible, valve having an intermediate opening therein positioned to discharge a liquid spray therefrom in a horizontal direction across an area directly beneath said slot upon depression of the valve, a pivot bar rotatably secured to a side wall of the receptacle positioned between the closure flap and the can valve, the bar comprising a first arm disposed to extend above and in alignment with the can valve and a second arm disposed to extend below and in alignment with the closure flap so that depression of the closure flap to swing downwardly in an are into the receptacle causes its engagement with the second arm to actuate said pivot bar whereby the first arm depresses the can valve to spray a charge of disinfecting and deodorizing liquid laterally across the receptacle adjacent to and below the arc of the downwardly swinging closure flap to spray each article of clothing as it is inserted through the slot, spring means secured to the pivot bar and to a side wall of the receptacle to return the pivot bar to a free position when the flap is released, and stud means to limit rotation of the first arm away from the can valve.

2. A disinfecting and deodorizing receptacle as described in claim 1, the cover having a raised and overhanging portion forming a lip defining the extent of the slot, the undersurface of said lip constituting the undersurface of the cover against which said closure flap is urged.

3. A disinfecting and deodorizing receptacle as described in claim 1, the side walls being provided with a plurality of perforations for the ventilation of the receptacle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 639,007 12/1899 Whitehead 220-87 962,881 6/1910 Bolger 22087 1,037,625 9/1912 Hofer 22087 1,092,752 4/1914 Segall 22087 1,194,787 8/1916 Rudolph 22087 1,195,034 8/1916 Lang 220-87 2,281,630 5/1942 Southard 220-87 3,028,055 4/1962 V/ood 222- MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner.

J. ZATARGA, Assistant Examiner, 

1. A DISINFECTING AND DEODORIZING RECEPTACLE FOR SOILED CLOTHING AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A BASE WITH UPSTANDING SIDE WALLS AND A HINGED COVER PIVOTALLY SECURED TO ONE OF THE SIDE WALLS ADJACENT ITS UPPER EDGE, A SLOT PROVIDED IN THE COVER THROUGH WHICH SOILED CLOTHES ARE HAND-DEPOSITED INTO THE RECEPTACLE, A DOWNWARDLY SWINGABLE CLOSURE FLAP OF SUFFICIENT SIZE TO COVER THE SLOT PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY A HINGE ON THE UNDERSURFACE OF THE COVER ADJACENT ONE SIDE OF THE SLOT, SPRING MEANS IN THE HINGE URGING THE FLAP UPWARDLY AGAINST THE UNDERSURFACE OF THE COVER ADJACENT ANOTHER SIDE OF SAID SLOT IN COVERING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID SLOT, A SPRAY CAN OF DISINFECTING AND SEDORIZING LIQUID VERTICALLY DISPOSED IN THE RECEPTABLE, MEANS TO REMOVABLY SECURE THE SPRAY CAN TO A SIDE WALL OF THE RECEPTACLE, THE SPRAY CAN PROVIDE AT ITS TOP WITH A SPRING-ACTUATED, VERTICALLY-DEPRESSIBLE, VALVE HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE OPENING THEREIN POSITIONED TO DISCHARGE A LIQUID SPRAY THEREFROM IN A HORIZONTAL DIRECTION ACROSS AN AREA DIRECTLY BENEATH SAID SLOT UPON DEPRESSION OF THE VALVE, A PIVOT BAR ROTATABLY SECURE TO A SIDE WALL OF THE RECEPTACLE POSITIONED BETWEEN THE CLOSURE FLAP AND THE CAN VALVE, THE BAR COMPRISING A FIRST ARM DISPOSED TO EXTEND ABOVE AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CAN VALVE AND A SECOND ARM DISPOSED TO EXTEND BELOW AND IN ALIGMENT WITH THE CLOSURE FLAP SO THAT DEPRESSION OF THE CLOSURE FLAP TO SWING DOWNWARDLY IN AN ARC INTO THE RECEPTACLE CAUSES ITS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SECOND ARM TO ACTUATE SAID PIVOT BAR WHEREBY THE FIRST ARM DEPRESSES THE CAN VALVE TO SPRAY A CHARGE OF DISINFECTING AND DEDORIZING LIQUID LATERALLY ACROSS THE RECEPTACLE ADJACENT TO AND BELOW THE ARC OF THE DOWNWARDLY SWINGING CLOSURE FLAP TO SPRAY EACH ARTICLE OF CLOTHING AS IT IS INSERTED THROUGH THE SLOT, SPRING MEANS SECURED TO THE PIVOT BAR AND TO A SIDE WALL OF THE RECEPTACLE TO RETURN THE PIVOT TO A FREE POSITION WHEN THE FLAP IS RELEASED, AND STUD MEANS TO LIMIT ROTATION OF THE FIRST ARM AWAY FROM THE CAN VALVE. 